Walking toy



April 19, 1932. B. KRAUS 1,854,202

WALKING TOY -Filed March 21, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet l April 19, 1932. B, KRAUS 1,854,202

WALKING TOY Filed Marchal, 195o 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented Apr. 19, 1932 PATENT oFFIeE.

BERNABDKE-US, 0F- NEW BRIGHTON, NEW YORK applicativa. nie-ai ai, leso.. seria-i. no... 437,701.

in planes, and foot members swivelledi upon the leg members for horizontal movement.there-v on and connected through suitable springs to yieldingly hold the feet in normal' position upon the legsy and at the. same time permit` j slight swivelli'ng and forward swaying movementsy oi the legs upon the feettm the walking operation. Each legmember. isswivelledj at?y its upper end to the body member and carries a projection which extends througha slot' formed in the body member, suitable'. spring, stops upon the body member engaging said leg projections and permitting slight' relative movements between the legs and the body member in; both; vertical and horizontal i planes. Saidleg projections areV preferably formed with cams which act upon. the bodyy portion to assist the slight relative backward tu rning movements ofthe bodyl upon the legs, induced by the oscillating weight to simulate the slight backward turning or swinging, mo-

tion of the body and the throwing forward of the legs as inthe natural act-lof walli fr.,

To operate the walkingg toy the cloIo-work motor mounted upon the body member actuates a rotating wing( or paddle that alternately engages opposite pallets upon a rocking: member that carries upon a springjarmany adjustable weight which is'presented in position above the center of gravity oft-he figure to properly balance the figure on the feet` andi, when actuated" byv the clock mechanism, to oscillat'e from side to side andimpiarttothe body slight jolting impacts. upon opposite sides of the centerof'gravityto cause, the balianced figure to. sway Hrst one wayandf then the other, alternately upon the right foot member andthe left foot member,causing the foot members to be lifted and moved slightly forward one after the other in amanner simillar to the natural action of a person walking.

In order that the invention may be fully understood, it will' rst be described with reference to the accompanyingdrawings and the novelty afterwards more particularlypointed out in the annexed claims.

ln said'V drawings Figure 1' is a front elevation of the im-. proved walking toy mechanism, showing in dotted? lines a'fancitulfigure ofa man that can be employed t'o conceal the mechanism.

Figure 2 is a side elevation oi said mechani'sm.

Figure 3i is a rear elevation. of the same showing the. bodyv member in vertical section and the' leg members.v partly broken away:

Figure 4S is a top, plan Viewv ofthe mechanisnr. v

Figure 5'l is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 5 5 of Figure 3i Figure 6l is a detail Vertical sectional view s taken on the line 6--6L of Figure 3'.

Figure; 7( is a horizontal sectional' View taken on the linel 7-7 of Figure 2.

TheVA improved walking toy comprises a body memberA carrying' a motor-driven act-uati'ng weight', leg-members havingswivel connect'i'on witlrthebody member andE foot members swivelled upon theI leg members, the whole being so proportioned and arranged to stand?l erect in balanced positionl upon the foot' members: and: caused. by thefaction ofthe racking1 weight. tosimulate the action@ of a personwhen.walking;`

The body. member as illustrated. inthe accompanying drawings, consists of a substantial-ly. cylindrical hollow boX l preferably formed? of sheet metal. andl havingk the trop wall 2. and. the bottom. wall 3. Rigidly mounted upon, .topf wall 2. of. body member-1 and' projecting. upwardly therefrom is4 a,

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clock-work frame 4 containing a train of gears indicated at 5 driven by a spring 7 having a winding arbor engaged by key 8 projecting rearwardly from the walking ligure. This spring operated train of gears may be any well-known clock-work mechanism such as is commonly employed in operating mechanical toys.

rlhe arbor 9 of the clock-work mechanism projects forwardly through the supporting frame 4 and has mounted upon it a rotary wing or paddle 10` which alternately engages the pallets 11 projecting inwardly from one bar 12 of a laterally oscillating U-shaped frame. The bar 12 Ais journalled at 13vupon the top plate 2 of body member 1 to present the. pallets 11 in opposite relation, above and below, the rotary wing or paddle 10, so that in the rotation of the wing or' paddle 10 said l U-shaped frame w'll be oscillated from side to side upon the body member.

The bar 12 is connected at top through the cross-bar 14 with the second bar 15 of said U-shaped oscillating frame, the bar 15 being journalled at 16 upon the top plate 2 in rear of the clock-work mechanism, it being clear that the oscillating ttl-shaped frame projects upwardly from body member 1 and straddles the clock-work mechanism. rlhe bar l5 of the oscillating U-shaped frame is formed between its ends with a slotted. yoke 17, through the slot of which projects the winding arbor or the barrel of the operating` key 8, the slot permitting the free oscillation of the upstanding U-shaped frame 12, 14, 15.

Projecting upwardly from the bar 15 is a bracket 18 supporting at one end a forwardly and horizontally presented spring blade or arm 19 having a longitudinal slot 26 and upon which is adjustably mounted a weight shown in two sections 21 secured together by a screw bolt 22 passed through'the slot 2O and clamping the two sections of the weight in the desired adjusted position upon the spring blade or arm 19. lThe spring blade or arm 19 rests between two limiting spring blades 23 projecting from the bracket arm 18, the purpose of said blades 23 being to slightly s titlen the blade or arm 19 and confine the point of ilexure of the spring blade or arm 19 approximately to the vertical transverse plane through the center of gravity of the walking toy.

The lower end of bar 15 of the oscillating weight carrying frame is formed with impact shoulders 24 projecting oppositely from the pivot 16 in position to engage the face of the body top 2, thereby limiting the oscillating strokes of the weight-carrying frame and imparting a slight jolting blow to the body member at the completion of each rocking movement of the weight-carrying frame, said blows being delivered first on one side and then on the other side of the center of gravity of the body member to effect the alternate swaying of the ligure.

Said oscillating frame is also provided upon the lower end of bar 15 beneath pivot 16 with an angular detent 25 which is engaged F 4ing frame forces detent 26 downwardly by the cam action of detent 25 thereon, the spring 29 yielding to allow detent 25 to pass and immediately causing detent 26 to move upwardly into engagement with the opposite face of detent 25. rlhe action of this spring pressed detent 26 is to assist the weight in producing positive jolting blows to the bodyby the action of the oscillating weightcarrying frame.

lt will be observed that the weight is mounted upon a spring blade or arm supported from the rear bar of the oscillating frame and extending forwardly horizontally across the vertical transverse plane that eX- tends through the center of gravity of the body, the movement of the weight from side to side tending to sway the body to and fro, and the resiliency of the spring arm permitting the weight to swing or snap slightly to the rear at the completion of each impact of the oscillating frame.

T he body and motor-driven weight are supported in balanced position upon two legs indicated at 30 and 31. rEhese legs may be made of any suitable material and shape and as shown in the drawings, are formed of properly shaped sheet metal tubes having top plates 32 and bottom plates 33, Near the forward edge of each leg top plate 32 is secured one leaf of a horizontal hinge 34, the otherleaf of said hinge carrying a vertical pivot pin 35 which passes freely through a vertical socket 36 carried by the bottom plate 3 of body member 1. rlhis vertical pivot 35 passes up through an opening in the body bottom plate 3 and receives a cross pin 37 which rests upon a wear washer 38 and completes the jointing of the leg member with the body member, said described joint peritting' relative movement between each leg member and the body member upon both the horizontal hinge and the vertical pivot pin. rlhis joint between the body member and the leg member v.forward of the center of gravity of theleg member will permit each leg niember togravitate forwardly upon its joint when the leg is lifted by the swaying of the body, and said joint will also permit a. slight turnnear the rear edge of top leg plate 32 an upwardly projecting arm 39 which extends through a slot 40 Pof body bottom plate 3, said arm being notched at 41 to receive a spring wire 42 which is supported at its 4Jforward end within body 1 upon .fa hinge 43, the

arrangement being` such that the spring wire 42 presses inwardly against the notched arm 39 to yielding'ly hold it enga-gement with the inner edge of the slot 40. The spring wire 42 projects across the slot 40 and, Idepending upon the notch oit' arm 39 that it engages, will to that extent limit the relative movement between the body 1 and rear .of the leg 30 or 31, as the leg gravita-tes forwardly in taking a. step.

These arms 39 projecting from leg members into the body member are termed with cam edges 44 which are designed to engage the inner edges of the slots 40 to assist the slight rearward turning movements of the body member upon the vertical leg pivots 35 when the swinging` weight sways the body member laterally and rearwardly upon a leg acting as a lulcrum.

The leg members .30 and 31 are supported upon toot members which are connected to the leg members by pivot joints. Each toot member 45 is mounted upon a pivot rod 46 which entends up through the botto-m leg plate 33 and the intermediate partition plate 47, said rod 46 being rigidly attached to the ioot member and journaled in plates 33 and 47. The bottom leg plate 33 has a bearing opening through it which lits loosely upon the enlarged bearing hub portion 48 of the rod 46 so as to allow relative a-Xial motion between the leg member and its supporting foot member. Each foot also carries -a lug 49 which engages an inclined notch 50 in the lower end of the leg member, to restrict the relative movements between the leg members and the toot members. Each rod 46 has coiled upon it ,a 4spring 51 having one end 'attached to the rod and the other end attached to the partition wall 47, the purpose of said spring being to hold the swivel foot 45 in normal position upon the leg, while permit ting the relative axial movement between these partsat the proper times.

The walking toy mechanism may be fen-i closed in any desired form oit ligure, such as indicated by dotted lines in Fig-ure 1 of the drawings, in which the form of a man is drawn around the mechanism.

To operate the walking toy, the spring moto-r is wound up by the key 8 and the tigure placed in upright. position upon the foot members. The spring .motor actuating the rotary wing or paddle 10, alternately vengages the pallets upon the rocking trame 12, 14, 15, can-sing said frame to oscillatelaterally in a vertical transverse plane, with the result that the limiting impact shoulders 24 will strike a jolting blow upon the body member at lthe lcompletion ci each lateral stroke.. As each movement of the rocking fram-e is completed, the weight 21 is thrown by its momen-'tum slightly to the rear because of the resiliency 'of the spring blade or arm 19. As the weighted frame reaches the limit of its movement to one `si-de, the tigure aways slightly sidewise and turns slightly to Vthe rear upon pivots 35 and 46 of one leg-the lett leg, for instanceand thereby lifts the other leg-the right leg-and its supporting foot from the ground to permit the lifted right leg to gravitate forwardly uponfhinge 34 to talle a step; and to turn slightly on pivot 35 under the action oif spring 42 and cam 44. llVhen the Aright foot is thus lifted, the spring 51, l(being und-er tension from the describedslight rearward turn on pivot rod 46,), returns the foot member to normal position upon the leg member. In this initial movement, the whole igure turns slightly on the pivotal airis 435 of the lei-t leg joint that is at the moment acting as the support and fulcrnm, and at the same time Ithe .swaying rearward turning action of the body, also turns the left or fulcrum leg upon its supporting foot and inclines the body slightly :forwardl on hinge 34 of the ulcrum foot. At the lcompletion of this movement from the lirst lateral stroke ot the rocking weighted frame, the spring motor moves said .rocking frame to its opposite position, thereby imparting a jolting blow upon the other side of the body and causing the body to fulcrnm upon the right leg and foot which had just previously moved forward for a step. This action causes a repetition of the described movements, the body being first swayed over upon the `advanced right leg to lift the lett leg for a step forward, the spring y51 returning the foot 45 to normal position upon the left leg when the weight of the 'ligure is removed therefrom, and the lef-t leg gravitating forwardly for a step, as the body Isways laterally and turns rearwardly upon the double joint 34, 35 of ulcrum right leg. In this body turning movement, the snap of the weight upon its supporting spring or arm 19 tends toturn the body by the momentum of the Weight, and this turning action is also assisted by the slight downward motion of the body member 1 upon the lcam edge 44 of the arm 39 of the leg then 'acting las the fulcrum.

It will be understood that the motion of the leg .members upon hinges 34 can be made more or less by adjusting the spring wire 42 in the notches of the arm l39, since the intersection of the spring wires 42 with the slots 4() arrests the motion 'of the leg members upF on their horizontal hinge supports.

lltl

My present invention has been illustrated as applied to a Jform of mechanical walking tigure having motor driven means upon the body member for imparting a to and fro lateral swaying motion thereto in combination with transversely pivoted leg members adapted to alternately advance solely by gravity when lifted' by the swaying motion o the body member; but I would have it understood that I make no claim to such a construction having gravity operated legs, and that my invention is not limited to a toy having gravitating leg members, but is applicable to other forms of mechanical walkf ing toys irrespective of the torce that causes the leg members to move with respect to the body members.

I claim:

1. In a walking ligure, the combination with a body member, and leg members having vertical and transverse axial joints connecting them with said body member for relative movement in two planes thereon, said leg members supporting said body member in equilibrium, and actuating mechanism mounted upon said body member adapted to impart a to and tro lateral and backwardly turning swaying motion to said figure to effeet the alternate advance of said leg members as in walking.

2. A walking figure comprising a body member, leg members pivotally connected with said body member and supporting it in substantial equilibrium, a laterally oscillating motor driven member' mounted upon said body member, and a weight resiliently mounted upon said laterally oscillating member.

3. A walking figure comprising a body member, leg members having jointed connection with said body member and supporting it in substantial equilibrium, a laterally oscillating motor driven member mounted upon said body member, impact stops upon the body member against which said oscillating member strikes, and a weight mounted upon said laterally oscillating member.

4. A walking ligure comprising a body member, leg members having` jointed connection with said body member and supporting it in substantial equilibrium, a laterally oscillating motor driven member mounted upon said body member, impact stops upon the body member against which said oscillating member strikes, a spring arm carried' by said oscillating member, and a weight mounted upon said spring arm.

5. A walking igure comprising a body member, leg members jointed to said body member and supporting it in .substantial equilibrium, a spring motor mounted upon said body member, an upwardly projecting` oscillating member driven by said motor, a spring arm mounted upon and projecting horizontally from said oscillating member, and a weight mounted upon said spring' arm.

6. In a walking figure, the combination with a body member, and a motor driven oscillating weight mounted upon said body member to effect a to and fro swaying motion of said ligure, of leg members supporting said body member and having vertical and horizontal axial joints thereon, and means limiting the relative movements between the body member and the leg members.

7. In a walking figure, the combination with a body member, and body-supporting leg members having vertical and transverse axial jointed connections with said body member, said jointed connections providing relative movements in two planes, of motor driven means mounted upon said body member for imparting a to and fro backwardly turning and laterally swaying motion to said ligure to eiect the alternate advance of said leg members as in walking.

8. In a walking figure, the combination with a body member, and a motor driven 0scillating weight mounted upon said body member to effect a to and Jfro swaying motion of said ligure, of leg members jointed to and supporting said body member and arms projecting from said leg members in rear ot their body connecting joints, said arms having restricted movable engagement with said body member, and cams between said arms and said body member for turning said body member upon its jointed connections with said leg members.

9. In a walking figure, the combination with a body member, and motor driven means mounted upon said body member to effect a to and fro swaying motion of said figure, of leg members jointed to and supi porting said body member, arms projecting from said leg members in engagement with said body member, cams between said arms and said body member for relatively turning said body member and said leg members upon said jointed leg connections, and springs acting upon said arms to yieldingly hold said cams in engagement with said body member.

l0. In a walking figure, the combination with a body member, supporting leg members jointed to said body member, and motor driven means upon said body member for swaying and axially turning said body member, of 'foot members vertically pivoted upon said leg members, and springs arranged between said foot members and said leg mem-- bers.

11. In a walking figure, the combination with a body member, supporting leg mem-- bers jointed to said body member by pivotal axes extending longitudinally and transversely of said body member, and motor driven means upon said body member for swaying and axially turning said body member, of foot members vertically pivoted upon said leg members, means limiting the moveu ments of said foot members upon said leg members, and springs arranged between said foot members and said leg members.

12. In a Walking ligure, 'the combination with a body member, supporting leg members jointed to said body member, foot members pivoted vertically upon said leg members, springs yieldingly maintaining the normal relation of said foot members and said leg members, coating lugs and notches upon said foot members and said leg members for limiting relative movement between said members, and means upon said body member to impart a to and fro swaying turning motion to said figure.

BERNARD KRAUS. 

